GS4 · 20 marks · 250 words

You are a young athlete representing India at an international-level competition. To your surprise, during the competition, you witness a few senior athletes injecting something using a syringe in private. When you approach them, they explain that it is a performance enhancing drug, which is very common in such competitions and you should take the same as well. You are aware that if these players get caught in a doping test, it may damage India's reputation. You are confused and afraid of the repercussions and decide to approach the coach to discuss the event you witnessed. However, you get to know that the athletes are taking the drug on the advice of the coach himself. (a) What would you do in this scenario? Discuss the options available to you and chart your course of action. (b) What are the reasons behind the use of performance enhancing drugs in competitive sporting events? How can this practice be minimized?

Answered by 4 toppers · CSE 2022–2023

IntegrityEthical Dilemmas in GovernmentEthics in Private and Public LifeCorruptionCivil Service Values

Syllabus: Case Studies on above issues.

How toppers approached it

From all 4 answers · about 420 words · 50% drew a diagram.

Opening

  • A figure2 of 4
  • No separate opening2 of 4

Body

  • Points and prose4 of 4

Close

  • No separate close4 of 4

The toppers’ answers

Waseem Ahmad BhatAIR 7 · CSE 2022 · 426 wordsTheir whole copy

Opening

The given case relates to doping in international sports events which gives an unfair advantage to the players while leading to bias against ones who don't use it. This is illegal under WADA at international level.

Body · points and prose

Diagram
Stakeholders (Central node) - Sports authority - Media - International Sportspersons - My seniors - Coach - Me - India

(a) As a responsible sportsperson, I believe the sports is not only about winning but about sportsmanship and fortitude. It is my duty to ensure a level playing field & uphold reputation of my own nation.

Options available are :

(i) Report to a higher authority

MeritsDemerits
⦿ Will lead to clear conscience⦿ May lead to repercussions against me
⦿ Reduce chances of disreputation to India⦿ May lead to loss for India
⦿ Fulfill sports morals⦿ Lack of esprit de corps

(ii) Hide the incident & take the drug

MeritsDemerits
⦿ Will enhance performance⦿ Against sportsmanship
⦿ May lead to huge boost for India's reputation by winning⦿ Lack of ethics & trustworthiness
⦿ No level playing field

(iii) Resign from sports

MeritsDemerits
⦿ No crisis of conscience or knower-doer split⦿ Dereliction of duty
⦿ Lead to no problems for me⦿ Still affect country's reputation if drugs found

⇒ Course of action

⦿ I will pursue the case with higher ups immediately and inform them about the illegal act.

⦿ I will argue that it will cause a huge disrepute to India in international arena and is against sportsmanship.

⦿ I will request for different sportspersons in the meantime.

⦿ Strict punishment should be given to create deterrence.

⦿ I will further never allow anyone to use such drugs in my team.

(b) Reasons for use

Close

⦿ To enhance performance — leads to wins and medals.

⦿ Focus on consequence (ends of coins) rather than means. ↳ Unworthy as per Kant & Gandhiji.

⦿ Social degradation of morality and Sanskritisation of corruption (Kaushik Basu).

⦿ Belief in winner takes all approach.

⦿ Zero-sum game concept.

⇒ Measures to minimise

⦿ Proper testing of drugs.

⦿ Punishment to create deterrence (Venkatachaliah).

⦿ Code of Conduct & ethics for sports which contains values of integrity, Sportsmanship etc.

⦿ Use of role models such as Tendulkar, Sania Mirza etc to change attitude.

This will lead to a broad social change towards true sportsmanship with integrity, compassion & courage.

More on Integrity

Consistency between stated values and conduct, especially when it is costly, and the difference between integrity and mere rule-following.

All GS4 questions on Integrity